Fire-alarm apparatus



Jgn. 19 1926.

H. HUNKE rmn'hmnu APPARATUS mudioct. 16, 192:

2 sheetkshoet'l Jan. 19 1926. 1,570,255

H. HUNKE FIRE ALARII APPARATUS Filed Oct. 16,1923 2 Sheets-Shoot 2 Patented Jan. 19, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1,570,255 PATENT OFFICE.

HUGO HUNKE, or TAYLOBWTVEXAS.

FIRE-ALARM APPARATUS.

Application filed October 16, 1923. Serial No. 668,885.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUco HUNKE, a citiwhich the following is a specification.

5 This invention relates to a fire alarm apparatus, the object of the invention being to provide a simple, reliable and efiicient type of annunciator for apparatus of this character which may be installed and kept in service condition at comparatively low cost.

The invention consists of the features 0 construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, refeence being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front view, partially in section, of the indicating and alarm mechanism at a fire engine house or station, and showing in diagram the alarm circuit.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical section through parts shown in Figure 1. l v Figure 3 is afragmentary top plan view of parts shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4- is a perspective view of one of the combined indicator cover and switch plates.

In the practical embodiment of my invention as herein disclosed, I provide a main conductor 1 extending to and from the indicating mechanism at a fire engine house or other station, said conductor containing a source of electric energy 2, and connected with one of the circuit closing contacts or switch points of alarm boxes 8, 4: and 5 arranged at the points to be protected, other conductors 6, which complete the circuit conductors, extending from the circuit clos ing contacts or switch points of said alarm boxes to the indicating mechanism at the fire engine house or central station. The source of electric energy 2 may be a battery, the electric service system of a town or city or a combination of both, as desired. The alarm boxes, of which any. number may be arranged in the alarm system, and three of which are shown in the present instance, may be of any suitable type provided with switch mechanism adapted to be closed by an operator to set the system in action to give the alarm. The system also includes an alarm circuit comprising a conduct-or 7 containing a battery or other suitable source of electric energy 8, aconductor 9, a bell or other audible signal 10, and, if desired,-a horn, siren or other similar signal 11, which alarm circuit is arranged to be closedby circuit closing devices actuating one or the other of the alarm box circuits.

Located at the fire engine house or main station is a baseboard or panel 12 upon which are mounted a series of indicating devices 3, 4L and 5, associated with the respective alarm boxes 3, 4E and 5. Each of theseindicators comprises a suitable box or frame designed to display an indication of a protected point at which the as sociated alarm box is arranged, such, for example, as Main and 6th St, as shown by the indicator 4 in Figure 1. A cover plate 12 is provided for each indicator, and is adapted to normally overlie and conceal the same and to be normally locked in such position. Each cover plate is provided at its upper end with hinged lugs 13 engaging a supporting rod 14 carried by brackets 15 depending from a shelf 16 secured to the baseboard 12. A coiled spring 17 surrounds the rod 14.- between the lugs 13 of each cover plate 12 and bears at one end against the baseboard 12 and is fixed at its opposite end to the cover plate or one of its lugs 13, said spring being energized or placed under tension when the cover plate is depressed to cover the indicator and operating when the cover plate is unlatched or released to elevate it to a horizontal position, thereby exposing the indicator, so that the point of origin of the alarm may be seen.

Each cover plate is provided at its free edge with a keeper notch or recess 18 to receive a locking stud 19 upon one end of a centrally pivoted latch 20, whereby when the cover plate is in closed position and engaged by the latch, said cover plate will be held from opening movement under the action of its spring. The lower end of the latch 20 forms a trip arm 21 adapted to be engaged by a striker 22 on an armature 23 normally held retracted by a spring 24 and adapted to be operated by an electromagnet armature 23, causing the striker 22 to engage and release the latch 20, whereupon the cover plate 12 will fly upward under the impulse of its actuating spring 17.

The cover plate 12 also forms a switch for closing the alarm circuit containing the alarm devices 10 and 11, and for this purpose each cover plate is provided with circuit closing contacts or plugs 26. These plugs 26 are adapted to engage spring sockets or jackets 27, mounted upon the shelf 16, a pair of such sockets or jackets being provided for cooperation with the switch con tacts of each cover plate, and each pair of sockets or jackets being independently connected with the conductors 7 and 9. Hence w ien the cover 12" of any certain indicator is unlatched and elevated by its operating spring, and engages a set of circuit closin'g members 27, the alarm circuit containing the bell 10 and horn or siren 11 will be energized and the signals therein sounded simultaneously with the uncovering of the location indicator by the upward movement of the cover plate. The signals 10 and 11 may be arranged at any suitable point or points so as to give an alarm within the engine house and to also give an alarm at a more or less remote point from the engine house, as c esired.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, the construction and operation of my improved fire alarm apparatus will be readily understood, and it will be seen that it provides a simple, reliable and eliicient type of device for use in towns or cities which may be installed, maintained in repair and operated at a comparatively low cost and which is free from complexity and contains very few parts of a kind not liable to get out of order and which may be readily understood and repaired by any one having ordinary mechanical knowledge and skill. Also it will be seen that the system provides a simple and eiiective means which gives a positive indication of the point of origin of the fire, or the point of location of the alarm or call box which has been actuated, without resort to the use of complex mechanism for the purpose.

Haring thus fully described my invention, I claim An indicator for electric circuits comprising a vertically disposed base, ahorizontally disposed shelf carried thereby and extending forwardly therefrom, a stationary indicating member on the base, a rod carried by said shelf, a cover plate hinged at its upper edge to the rod and adapted for depression to cover said stationary indicating member and to be elevated for exposing said stationary indicating member, a spring carried by the rod and acting on said cover plate for elevating the same, a latch member engageable with the lower edge of the cover plate for holding the same in depressed position, means for retracting said latch member and thereby releasing the cover plate, stationa-iy circuit closing contacts, projecting downwardly through the shelf, and coacting contacts carried by the cover plate for engagement with said stationary contacts when the cover plate is elevated.

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature.

HUGO HUN KB. 

